A
five-man gang who allegedly raped two ladies (names withheld), one of whom is a
leading model in Lagos, were yesterday ordered to be remanded in prison custody
by a Lagos Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Ogba.
They
were remanded in prison custody by Chief Magistrate K.O. Ogundare pending when
their bail conditions will be met.
The
defendants who included Gabriel Obinna a.k.a Venessa,19, Nnadozie
E.Akabueze, 20, Hector Ugochuwku, 31, Chinedu Ezechukwu, 21, and Balogun
Godwin, 25, were arraigned by the police before the court on an eight count
charge bordering on rape, abduction and stealing.
Police
prosecutor, Superintendent Joe Egbo told the court that the defendants
allegedly committed the offence on July 25, 2016 and August 8, 2016 against the
model and the other ladies at their usual hang out, Happy Hour Hotel, Agege.
Egbo
told the court that three of the defendants, Obinna, Ugochuwku and Akabueze
allegedly abducted and unlawfully had sexual intercourse with the model (names
withheld) without her consent.
He
also alleged that the defendants stole N50,000, one i-phone valued N150,000 and
a gold chain valued N8,000.00, which totaled N208,000, property of their
victim.
The
three defendants were again alleged to have conspired with two other
defendants, Ezechukwu and Godwin on August 8, 2016 abducted and unlawfully had
sexual intercourse with another girl (names withheld) at the same hotel in
Agege without her consent.
The
defendants were also alleged to have stolen a sum of N10, 000 from their second
victim.
Superintendent
Egbo told the court that the offences committed by the defendants were contrary
to and punishable under sections under sections 258(2), 266, 278(1)(b), 285(5)
(b) 409 of the criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.
When
the charges were read to them by the court registrar, all the defendants
pleaded not guilty.
Counsel
to the defendants, Mr. Kayode Rufus prayed the court to grant them bail as
stipulated in the law.
He
urged the court to grant bail to his clients on liberal terms assuring that
they would not jump bail.
Police
prosecutor, did not raise any objection to the defendants’ request for bail.
Chief
Magistrate, Ogundare granted the defendants bail in the sum of
N250,000 each with two sureties in the like sum and who must be their blood
relations.
He
said the sureties must have verifiable houses in Lagos State and must be
gainfully employed but not self-employed while their residential addresses must
be verified.
The
case was adjourned to August 29, 2016 for hearing.
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